Broomfield facilities closing down for some spiffing up

Derda, Community centers closing for annual maintenance

By Megan Quinn Enterprise Staff Writer

Posted:
08/14/2012 12:00:00 AM MDT

FLOATS ARE OUT NEXT WEEK: Kids take a float down the lazy river at the Paul Derda Recreation Center on Sunday. The center will be closed next week for annual maintenance, which means the river, the pool and all of its amenities will be off the table until Aug. 26.
(David R. Jennings)

Recreation center users will have to change their workout schedules starting next week, with the first of two closures of Broomfield's two facilities.

Deep cleaning, a new coat of paint and replacing lighting are all on the to-do list for the Paul Derda Recreation Center and the Broomfield Community Center. Closures will be staggered, so residents can access at least one of the two centers during maintenance periods.

The Paul Derda Recreation Center will close Monday through Aug. 26, and the Broomfield Community Center will close Aug. 29-31. The Community Center's pool will close Aug. 29 through Sept. 3.

Nancy Harrold, director of Broomfield Recreation Services, said the recreation centers might not look drastically different when they open again, but the routine closures give staff a chance to make repairs that extend the life of the facilities.

"We just want to be sure that it looks its best for the coming year," she said.

At the Derda Center, Studio A's floor will be refinished for the first time since the facility opened eight years ago. Some of the center's lights will be replaced, which requires using large equipment to make the reach.

Heavy equipment must be used when the building is empty, Harrold said.

The Community Center also will get a deep cleaning, including the pool, which will be drained and scrubbed.

Showers at both facilities also will be repaired.

Harrold said the closures are staggered to give residents workout options. The Bay Aquatic Park and the Community Center will be open during the Derda Center closure. When the Community Center closes, regular users can redeem their punch cards at the Derda Center, Harrold said.

Recreation and Facilities staff members are in charge of carrying out most of the maintenance, and only a few technical projects are completed using contract workers.

"It's not a vacation for the staff," she said.

Harrold said the closures might be inconvenient, but staff chose the end -of-August window to avoid summer's peak wave of rec center use.

"We do these closures at the end of the summer, when people are getting their kids ready to go back to school. Hopefully regulars know these closures are happening and can work out outside and take advantage of our parks and trails system," she said.

On a cloudy afternoon, people at both recreation centers walked past signs in the lobby that indicated the upcoming closure. Most said they had just heard about the closures, but were not too concerned the maintenance would put a cramp in their workout routines.

Nicole Lizakowski, who works out a few times a week, said she can easily find another way to work out, because she has exercise equipment in her basement. The advantage of going to a place like the Derda Center or the Community Center is being able to vary her workouts.

"There are people to look at and it's not so boring," she said. "At home, I'm just in my basement by myself."

Lucas Bride plays basketball at the Derda Center about three times a week.

On Monday, Bride said he just found out about the scheduled maintenance closures, but doesn't think the closures will affect him. In fact, the schedule is well timed, he said.

"That's right when I'm leaving for college, so I won't even be here," he said.

Others said recreation center closures in nearby cities have prompted them to make detours.

Louisville resident Anthony Webb works out five or six times a week at the Louisville Recreation Center, which is currently closed for maintenance. He drove to Monday Broomfield after his grandparents gave him a free pass to the city's facilities.

"It's a nice place. I've been here before, and it's better because of free passes," he said.

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